Drawbolt latching device

ABSTRACT

A drawbolt latching assembly for luggage cases and the like, including a keeper and a latching assembly to be mounted on the pair of luggage case sections. The latching assembly includes a mounting plate fixed to the luggage, a drawbolt body hinged along a first pivot axis to the mounting plate for swinging movement between latching and release positions, and a U-shaped shackle pivoted to the drawbolt body along a second pivot axis which remains outwardly of the plane between the first pivot axis and the keeper at all positions of the drawbolt body. A finger operated slide member releasibly latches the drawbolt body to the mounting plate. Resilient members are stressed by rotation of the shackle to angular positions relative to the drawbolt body during releasing movement to frictionally restrain the shackle at such angular positions.

United States Patent Atkinson [541 DRAWBOLT LATCHING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Wallace E. Atkinson, Petersburg,

[73] Assignee: Long Manufacturing Co., Inc.,

Petersburg, Va.

[22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1971 '21 Appl.No. 119,205 g Sweden ..70/73 51 Oct. 17,1972

Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence [5 7 ABSTRACT A drawbolt latching assembly for luggage cases and the like, including a keeper and a latching assembly to be mounted on the pair of luggage case sections. The latching assembly includes a mounting plate fixed to the luggage, a drawbolt body hinged along a first pivot axis to the mounting plate for swinging movement between latching and release positions, and a U- shaped shackle pivoted to the drawbolt body along a second pivot axis which remains outwardly of the plane between the first pivot axis and the keeper at all positions of the drawbolt body. A finger operated slide member releasibly latches the drawbolt body to the mounting plate. Resilient members are stressed by rotation of the shackle to angular positions relative to the drawbolt body during releasing movement to frictionally restrain the shackle at such angular positions.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHBT 17 I912 3.698. 753

SHEEI 1 0f 2 INVENTOR H/AL L Ac: 5 Ark/N604 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR -Q, ATTORNEYS PATENTEDncI 11 m2 SHEET 2 BF 2 DRAWBOLT LATCHING DEVICE BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to latching devices especially adapted for application to containers or receptacles such as luggage, having separable parts to be releasibly secured in closed position, and more particularly to drawbolt latching devices having a l pivoted U-shaped shackle pivoted to a hinged body or lever portion adapted to be supported on one of the separable container sections, the shackle being coactive with a keeper on the other container section to latch the container sections together in closed position.

Heretofore, drawbolt latches or locks have been widely used as an efficient means of closing a suitcase or similar receptacle, but such devices as previously made are flawed from a consumer usage viewpoint by being made increasingly difficult to open, the farther the keeper is moved from the drawbolt body. When a suitcase is over-packed, the keeper is effectively moved farther from the drawbolt body even if it was efficiently located on the luggage case during production. The hinging pins in the shackle and the body or lift piece of conventional drawbolts have been customarily placed to give a double toggle effect, and, under heavy stress, this positioning makes the drawbolt most difficult to close, and also even more difficult to open, frequently causing persons attempting to open significantly overpacked luggage to suffer broken fingernails or skinned knuckles.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel drawbolt latching device incorporating a U- shaped drawbolt shackle which may be latched to a keeper, the shackle being pivoted on a hinged drawbolt body or lever member having a finger operable slide for latching and releasing the drawbolt body relative to a mounting plate to which the drawbolt body is pivoted, wherein the relationships of the pivot axes for the shackle and the body portion are such that during arcuate movement of the elements to the latched position, the pivot axes do not reach or pass beyond center position of the pins, so that no overcenter movement of the pivot axes occurs.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel drawbolt latch and lock structure including a hinged drawbolt body member normally restrained in latched position by a finger actuated slide carried by the body member, the body member pivotally supporting a U-shaped shackle which coacts with a keeper to hold two receptacle sections in closed condition, and wherein the pivot axes are so located as to retain the pivot pins in undercenter position rather than permitting them to pass to overcenter position upon movement from released to latching positions.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel drawbolt latching device as described in either of the immediately preceding paragraphs, including novel means for raising the drawbolt body portion to clear the latching element after the finger operable slide is actuated, and wherein the shackle is held in a lifted position away from the keeper by tension induced by cars formed on the drawbolt body overlying shackle pins having flats thereon.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a drawbolt latching device constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown in latched condition on a por- 0 tion of a luggage case;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the drawbolt latching device, showing the same on a portion of a luggage case and moved to a release position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the drawbolt latching device;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section view of the latching device in latching position, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section view looking forwardly from a section plane at approximately the forward surface of the rear mounting plate, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section view taken from a position similar to the section plane for FIG. 4, but showing the drawbolt latching device in partially released position wherein the drawbolt body portion has been unlatched and swung outwardly from the luggage case walls; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 4, showing more clearly the relative locations of the hinging pin and shackle trunions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the drawbolt latching device of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference character 10 and comprises a keeper element, indicated at 11 in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6, and a latching section, indicated generally at 12. The keeper element is, in the illustrated embodiment, a simple integral member having a relatively thin, flat base plate portion 13 adapted to be secured against the front wall of one of the separable container sections, such as the lower tray or body section 14, and includes an outwardly and downwardly bent lip formation 15 as illustrated.

The latching section 12 in the illustrated embodiment is mounted on the upper or cover section 16 of the luggage case and comprises, as the basic elements thereof, a mounting plate 17 adapted to be secured directly against the forward surface of the front wall of the luggage cover section 16 by suitable fastening means such as rivets or mounting bolts 18, a drawbolt body 19 hingedly supported about a horizontal pivot axis at the lower end of the mounting plate 17, and a generally U-shaped drawbolt shackle 20. The shackle 20 is supported on the drawbolt body 19 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis spaced eccentrically relative to the axis of the hinge or pivotal mount between the drawbolt body 19 and the mounting plate 17 to cause the shackle 20 to move into and out of latching relation with the lip or flange formation 15 on the keeper 11 during swinging movement of the draw bolt body. The mounting plate 17 comprises a flat base portion 21 adapted to lie flat against the front surface of the luggage front wall and having an outwardly projecting apertured staple 22 near the upper end thereof and a pair of outwardly projecting hinge cars 23 at its lateral edges adjacent its lower end to receive the opposite ends of a horizontal hinge pin 24.

Pivotally hinged on this mounting plate 17 is the drawbolt body 19 sometimes referred to as a lift piece, comprising a drawbolt body member 25, which may be a casted body in one example, having a rearwardly opening channel or guideway 26 extending the full height thereof and opening through the top and bottom edges of the body member 25. The lateral portions of body member 25 flanking the guideway 26 have a pair of recesses 27 to define sockets for receiving the shackle pins or trunions, to be later described, and also adjacent the upper portion of the channel 26 have a pair of laterally extending socket formations 28.

' A rear coverplate 29 is provided on the drawbolt body member to cover the rear of the channel or guideway 26. The rear cover plate 29, in one example, may be stamped from sheet metal and includes a pair of mounting ears 30 conforming to the shape and depth of the lateral extensions 28 in the body member 25 to fit within the extensions 28, the mounting ears 30 having openings through which fastening formations 30', such as tubular studs or lug formations extending from the body 19, pass to secure the cover plate 29 in rearwardly covering relation to the channel 26. A similar fastener may extend through a hole near the lower end of plate 29 from the body 25 to secure the lower end of the cover plate 29. The lower end portion of the cover plate 29 has cylindrical hinge knuckle formations 31 through which the hinge pin 24 extends with a torsion spring 32 disposed between the two axially spaced hinge knuckle formations 31. One end of the torsion spring 32 extends throughthe slot 21 of the mounting plate base portion 21 to be restrained between the base portion 21 and the adjacent surface of the luggage, and the other end of the torsion spring extends forwardly below the lower edge of the cover plate 29 and up a short distance along the front surface thereof, the torsion spring being stressed in a condition to normally urge the drawbolt body 19 inwardly in a clockwise direction from the release position illustrated'in FIG. 6 toward the latched position illustrated in FIG. 4.

The U-shaped shackle 20, which in one example may be. an integrally casted element, comprises a lower horizontal cross member 34 having a recess 35 in the upwardly facing surface of the cross member 34 immediately adjoining a thin forward wall portion 36, and having a pair of laterally spaced upwardly extending shackle legs 37, 38 from which extend inwardly a pair of shackle pins or trunions 39 having flats 39a thereon. The shackle legs 37, 38 flank the sides of the narrower lower portion of the drawbolt body member 25, and the shackle pins or trunions 39 extend inwardly into the recesses 27 and are retained therein by the laterally extending ears 40 which project from the midregion of the rear cover plate 29 in rearwardly covering relation to the recesses 27 and resiliently bear upon the shackle pins 39. The ears 40 exert a certain amount of frictional force on the shackle pins 39, keeping them under suffrcient tension to hold the shackle in lifted position away from the keeper when the drawbolt body is manually swung outwardly to release the shackle from the keeper and is returned to near-closed position by spring 32.

of a hook in lateral profile. The retaining tongue 44 projects through an aperture 45 in the rear cover plate 29 to interfit in latching relation in the aperture of the staple 22 on the mounting plate 17. The aperture 45 permits a sufficient range of movement of the slide member 42 and retaining tongue 44 vertically along the guideway 26 to accommodate movement of the retaining tongue 44 between the retaining position illustrated in FIG. 4 and a lower release position wherein the tip of the tongue 44 is withdrawn from the aperture of the staple 22.

A generally hair pin shaped spring 46 spring loads the slide member 42 to the raised or retaining position, and a flatspring 47 is mounted against the front surface of the mounting plate 17 by the fastening screw or rivet l8 and has an outwardly arching or convex formation 47a at its upper end which bears against the rearwardmost portion of the retaining tongue 44 in the normal latched position, as illustrated in FIG. 4. It will be seen that upon depression of the slide member 42 to the lower release position withdrawing the tip of the retaining tongue 44 from the aperture of the staple 22, the convex portion 47a of spring 47 will resiliently kick or propel the drawbolt body 19 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 24 as viewed in FIG. 6 to clear the retaining tongue 44 from the apertured staple 22 through the interaction of the convex portion 470 with the retaining tongue 44. One lateral edge of the slide member 42 has a recess cut therein, as indicated at 48 in FIGS. 3 and 5, into which a lug 49 extends from a corresponding lateral edge of the rear cover plate 29 to limit the vertical stroke of the slide member 42 to the desired axial range.

The latching structure may be constructed simply as a shackle type drawbolt latch without any locking mechanism, orv may be provided with a key locking mechanism or with a'combinationlocking mechanism as desired. In one practical form, the drawbolt body 19 may be provided with a locking disc, such as illustrated at 50, which may be conveniently stamped from a generally circular piece of sheet metal or casted to the desired shape, and comprises a peripheral flange portion 50a and a forwardly projecting, central, substantially dome shaped portion 50b of an appropriate diameter to project through the central opening 51 in the casted drawbolt body member 25 which forms a 55 journal opening for the locking disc 50. The flange portion 500 bears against portions of the rear surface of the body member 25 defining the forward or base wall of the guideway 26, and lies against the forwardly facing surface of the slide member 42. A diametric slot is formed in the cylindrical dome shaped portion of the locking disc 50 and may project a slight distance into the adjoining flange portion, passing entirely through the locking disc, to receive the key bit and permit rotation of the locking disc when the key is inserted. The locking disc has a flat or cut away portion 52 on the flange portion 50a arranged relative to the transition shoulder 53 on the slide member 42 so that, when the locking disc 50 is in the unlocking position shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the flat 52 faces upwardly toward the shoulder 53 and is spaced far enough below it to permit rectilinear movement of the slide member 42 between the latching and release positions. However, when the locking disc 50 occupies any other angular position, particularly the position rotated 180 from the release position, the uninterrupted portions of the flange 50a lie immediately below the shoulder 53 of the slide member 42 and thus prevent unlatching movement of the latter. The locking disc 50 is preferably restrained in either locking or unlocking positions by appropriate detent socket and nose formations on the flange por tion 50a and on a confronting portion of either the drawbolt body member 25 or the slide member 42. Similar locking disc mechanisms are illustrated in my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,527,067 and 3,371,5l I. If desired, a locking tab may be bent forwardly from a cut in the slide 42 at a location spaced laterally from the center of disc 50 a distance corresponding to the radius at the center of the flat, in which case the disc 50 would have an unlocked position rotated 90 from the position shown in the drawings.

In the operation of the shackle type drawbolt latch construction herein disclosed, the luggage section 16 is moved into closed relation with the luggage section 14, with the drawbolt lock usually positioned so that the shackle 20 extends outwardly in angular relation to the drawbolt body portion 19 at relative angular positions similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6, but with the drawbolt body 19 lying close to the mounting plate 17 at the position toward which it is biased by the torsion spring 32. When the suitcase sections 16 and 14 reach closed positions against each other, the drawbolt body 19 is then swung outwardly to a position similar to that indicated in FIG. 6, and the shackle 20 is moved downwardly to a position interfitting the recess 35 in the cross member 34 with the keeper lip with the rearward edge portion 35' of cross member 35 underlying the latching formation 15. The drawbolt body portion 19 is then swung upwardly to the latching position illustrated in FIG. 4, during which movement the rearwardly facing rounded portion of the retaining tongue 44 engages an appropriately inclined cam portion 22 of the apertured staple 22, forcing the slide member 42 downwardly to permit the tip of the retaining tongue to pass rearwardly against the downwardly facing surface of the staple 22 until it registers with the aperture therein, whereupon it is shifted upwardly by the spring 46 into latched relation in the aperture of the staple 22. It will be noted that it does not matter how overpacked the suitcase might be or how far the keeper may be separated from the drawbolt body, if the shackle can be made to reach the keeper, it will draw the lid of the suitcase toward the body to the properly closed position when the drawbolt body 19 is swung from the FIG. 6 position to the FIG. 4 position to properly close the luggage case. During this inward arcuate movement of the drawbolt body from the release to the latched position, the axis of the shackle pins or trunions 39 does not reach, or pass overcenter to any location inwardly of, the plane through the hinge pin 24 and keeper lip 15, but remains slightly outwardly or undercenter relative to this plane, the drawbolt relying upon the latching of the retaining tongue 44 in the aperture of the staple 22 to retain the drawbolt body in the case latching position.

Through this specification, the terms undercenter and overcenter are used with reference to the plane, indicated by broken line P-P in FIG. 7, through the hinge pin 24 and keeper lip 15. The undercenter position is located slightly outwardly of this plane in a direction away from the adjacent luggage surfaces, this being the position of pin 24 and shackle trunions 39 shown in FIG. 7, while the non-attainable overcenter position would be between the plane P-P' and the adjacent luggage surfaces.

To open the drawbolt latch structure and associated luggage case, assuming that whatever lock mechanism is provided has been adjusted to the unlocked position, the operator merely depresses the concave flange portion 43 of the slide member 42 to move it down to the release position withdrawing the tip of the retaining tongue 44 from the aperture in the staple 22, while concurrently exerting finger pressure in a direction to swing the non-hinged end of the drawbolt body outwardly from the case. The outwardly convex portion 47a of the kicker spring 47 thereupon immediately impels the drawbolt body 19 outwardly through a small arc to clear the tongue 44 from the staple 22 if concurrent outward finger pressure is not applied to the drawbolt. To complete opening, the drawbolt body 19 after release of the tongue 44 is swung ina counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6 by continued finger pressure until the drawbolt body assumes a position similar to that shown in FIG. 6. Upon release of manual opening pressure from the drawbolt body, the spring 32 raises the drawbolt body 19 through a return stroke to a position near the mounting plate 17 and thereby lifts the shackle away from contact with the keeper. To explain this action more fully, during the outward swinging movement of the drawbolt body 19, the shackle 20 is effectively moved through an arc away from its normal condition of coplanar alignment with the drawbolt body to the relative angular position illustrated in FIG. 6, and the shackle 20 is retained by friction in this angularly displaced position by the resilient tension applied by the ears 40 of the rear cover plate 29 against the shackle pins or trunions 39. It will be noticed that because the flats 39a on the shackle trunions 39 normally face rearwardly when the latching unit is in the closed or latching position of FIG. 4 where the shackle is in coplanar alignment with the drawbolt body, the more the shackle is rotated outwardly relative to the drawbolt body, the more tension is obtained to frictionally hold the shackle in the outwardly displaced angular position relative to the drawbolt body, this tension reaching its maximum point when the entire flat is moved out of contact with the two ears 40. Because of this action wherein the shackle is moved to an outwardly inclined position relative to the plane of the drawbolt body and is held by resilient friction in that position, the effect is to raise the shackle outwardly from the keeper when the drawbolt body 19 is returned by spring 32 to its position near the mounting plate 17, thus lifting the shackle to an outwardly displaced position where it cannot accidentally snag on the keeper when trying to lift the lid of the case.

The drawbolt latching device herein described is especially advantageous from the consumer usage viewpoint because of the ease and convenience of opening the drawbolt device regardless of how overpacked the suitcase may be or how great is the internal pressure of the case contents exerting a separating force on the luggage case sections. With conventional drawbolt locks, the drawbolt must be made to pass overcenter during initial movement outwardly from latching position to unlatching position, which requires the suitcase sections to be drawn slightly closer together to allow movement of the drawbolt from latching to center positions, and the internal pressure of the suitcase contents sometimes resists this to such' an extent that the average customer cannot open the case. Because the shackle trunions 39in the present drawbolt construction are already outwardly of or undercenter relative to the plane P-P' through the hinge pin 24 and keeper lip 15, the trunions 39 do not have to pass overcenter during opening, and the opening force on the suitcase from internal pressure of over-packing, exerted by the keeper lip 15 against the adjacent shackle portions, causes the drawbolt body 19 to be easily and conveniently drawn outwardly about the axis of hinge pin 24 immediately upon unlatchingof the drawbolt body 19 from staple 22 by simple actuation of the finger actuated plunger 42.

While the latching structure has been described in an installation where the keeper member 11 is mounted on the body portion of a suitcase and the latching section 12 is mounted on the lid portion, it will be understood that the relative position of these two parts may be interchanged, with the keeper being provided on the suitcase lid and the drawbolt bodymounted on the suitcase body portion.

What is claimed is:

1. A drawbolt latching device adapted to be mounted on coplanar mounting surfaces of separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween,

comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the mounting surfaces having a first mating portion, a drawbolt assembly including a mounting plate to be affixed to the other of said mounting surfaces, a drawbolt body pivotally supported on said mounting plate for arcuate movement about a first pivot axis paralleling said surface between a latching position against saidplate and a release position inclined outwardly therefrom, a generally U-shaped shackle including a cross-member having a second mating portion and a pair of legs pivoted to said drawbolt body remote from said crossmember for arcuate movement between a latching position and a release position about a second pivot axis spaced eccentrically relative to said first pivot axis to interfit said second and first mating portions together and draw said keeper and its associated container part to closed position upon arcuate movement of the drawbolt body about said first pivot axis from said release position to said latching position, said second pivot axis when said drawbolt body occupies said latching position being located outwardly 'relative to said mounting surfaces from a reference plane passing through said first pivot axis and said-first mating portion and said second pivot axis remaining continuously outwardly of said reference plane throughout movement of the drawbolt body between latching and release positions, said mounting plate including a first retaining member, said drawbolt body having a guideway and a finger operable slide member movable therein biased to a hold position, the slide member having a second retaining member releasibly coupled with the first retaining member when the slide member occupies said hold position to restrain the drawbolt body against said plate and to release thedrawbolt body for outward pivotal movement upon manual actuation of the slide member. A

2. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 1, wherein said shackle includes trunions projecting inwardly from said legs toward the drawbolt body and journaled in the latter, said trunions each having a flat formed at a selected angular position thereon, and said drawbolt body including resilient members bearing against said trunions at positions to engage said flats when the shackle occupies said latching position and to be increasingly stressed by other portions of the trunions as the shackle is displaced angularly relative to the drawbolt body upon arcuate movement of the latter from its latching position to resiliently retain the shackle at such angularly displaced positions relative to the drawbolt body.

3. A drawbolt latching device adapted to be mounted on coplanar mounting surfaces of separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the mounting surfaces having a first mating portion, a drawbolt assembly including a mounting plate vto be affixed to the other of said mounting surfaces, a drawbolt body pivotally supported on said mounting plate for arcuate movement about a first pivot axis paralleling said surface between a latching position against said plate and a release position inclined outwardly therefrom, a generally U-shaped shackle including a cross-member having a second mating portion and a pair of legs pivoted to said drawbolt body remote from said crossmember for arcuate movement between a latching position and a release position about asecond pivot axis spaced eccentrically relative to said first'pivot axis to interfit said second and first mating portions together and draw said keeper and its associated container part to closed position upon arcuate movement of the drawbolt body about said first pivot axis from said release position to said latching position, said second pivot axis when said drawbolt body occupies said latching position'being located outwardly relative to said mounting surfaces from a reference plane passing though said first pivot axis and said first mating portion and said second pivot axis remaining continuously outwardly of said reference plane throughout movement of the drawbolt body between latching and release positions, said mounting plate including a retainingv staple projecting outwardly therefrom, said drawbolt body having a guideway and a finger operable slide member movable therein biased to a hold position, the slide member having a retaining tongue formation interfitted in said staple when the slide member occupies said hold position to restrain the drawbolt body against said plate and to release the drawbolt body for outward pivotal movement upon manual actuation of the slide member.

4. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 3, wherein said shackle includes trunions projecting inwardly from said legs toward the drawbolt body andjournaled in the latter, said trunions each having a flat formed at a selected angulai position thereon, and said drawbolt body including resilient members bearing against said trunions at positions to engage said flats when the shackle occupies said latching position and to be increasingly stressed by other portions of the trunions as the shackle is displaced angularly relative to the drawbolt body upon arcuate movement of the latter from its latching position to resiliently retain the shackle at such angularly displaced positions relative to the drawbolt body.

5. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 4, including a kicker spring on said mounting plate having an outwardly extending spring portion engaging said tongue formation during release movement of said slide member to resiliently move the tongue formation outwardly beyond an interfitting position relative to the staple immediately upon release of the tongue formation from said staple.

6. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 5, including a spring member adjacent said first pivot axis for continuously biasing said drawbolt body toward said mounting plate to resiliently swing the drawbolt body to a location near said latching position when manual tilting pressure is withdrawn from the drawbolt body.

7. A drawbolt latching device as defined inclaim 3, including a kicker spring on said mounting plate having an outwardly extending spring portion engaging said tongue formation during release movement of said slide member to resiliently move the tongue formation outwardly beyond an interfitting position relative to the staple immediately upon release of the tongue formation from said staple.

8. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 3, including a spring member adjacent said first pivot axis for continuously biasing said drawbolt body toward said mounting plate to resiliently swing the drawbolt body to a location near said latching position when manual tilting pressure is withdrawn from the drawbolt body.

9. A drawbolt latching device adapted to be mounted on coplanar mounting surfaces of separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the mounting surfaces having a first mating portion, a drawbolt assembly including a mounting plate to be affixed to the other of said mounting surfaces, a drawbolt body pivotally supported on said mounting plate for arcuate movement about a first pivot axis paralleling said surface between a latching position against said plate and a release position inclined outwardly therefrom, a generally U-shaped shackle including a cross-member having a second mating portion and a pair of legs pivoted to said drawbolt body remote from said crossmember for arcuate movement between a latching position and a release position about a second pivot axis spaced eccentrically relative to said first pivot axis to interfit said second and first mating portions together and draw said keeper and its associated container part to closed position upon arcuate movement of the drawbolt body about said first pivot axis from said release position to said latching position, said second pivot axis when said drawbolt body occupies said latching position being located outwardly relative to said mounting surfaces from a reference plane passing through said first pivot axis and said first mating portion and said second pivot axis remaining continuously outwardly of said reference plane throughout movement of the drawbolt body between latching and release positions, said shackle including trunions projecting inwardly from said legs toward the drawbolt body and journaled in the latter, said trunions each having a flat formed at a selected angular position thereon, and said drawbolt body including resilient members bearing against said trunions at positions to engage said flats when the shackle occupies said latching position and to be increasingly stressed by other portions of the trunions as the shackle is displace angularly relative to the drawbolt body upon arcuate movement of the latter from its latching position to resiliently retain the shackle at such angularly displaced positions relative to the drawbolt body.

10. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 9, including a spring member adjacent said first pivot axis for continuously biasing said drawbolt body toward said mounting plate to resiliently swing the drawbolt body to a location near said'latchingposition when manual tilting pressure is withdrawn from the drawbolt body.

11. A drawbolt latching device adapted to be mounted on coplanar mounting surfaces of separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the mounting surfaces having a first mating portion, a drawbolt assembly including a mounting plate to be affixed to the other of said mounting surfaces, a drawbolt body pivotally supported on said mounting plate for arcuate movement about a first pivot axis paralleling said surface between a latching position against said plate and a release position inclined outwardly therefrom, a generally U-shaped shackle including a cross-member having a second mating portion and a pair of legs pivoted to said drawbolt body remote from said cross-member for arcuate movement between a latching position and a release position about a second pivot axis spaced eccentrically relative to said first pivot axis to interfit said second and first mating portions together and draw said keeper and its associated container part to closed position upon arcuate movement of the drawbolt body about said first pivot axis from said release position to said latching position, said second pivot axis when said drawbolt body occupies said latching position being located outwardly relative to said mounting surfaces from a reference plane passing through said first pivot axis and said first mating portion and said second pivot axis remaining continuously outwardly of said reference plane throughout movement of the'drawbolt body between latching and release positions, and a spring member adjacent said first pivot axis for continuously biasing said drawbolt body toward said mounting plate to resiliently swing the drawbolt body to a location near said latching position when manual tilting pressure is withdrawn from the drawbolt body.

12. A drawbolt latching device adapted to be mounted on coplanar mounting surfaces of separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the mounting surfaces including a lip projecting in outwardly spaced relation therefrom away from said line, a drawbolt assembly including a mounting plate to be affixed to the other of said mounting surfaces having a retaining staple projecting outwardly therefrom, a drawbolt body member 'pivotally supported on said mounting plate for arcuate movement about a first pivot axis paralleling said surface between a latching position against said plate and a release position inclined outwardly therefrom, a rectilinearly reciprocative slide member supported in said drawbolt body for finger displacement from a normal position wherein a portion of the slide member is releasibly interfitted with the staple for holding the body in said latching position, a generally U-shaped shackle including a cross-member having a recess therein and a pair of legs pivoted to said drawbolt body remote from said cross-member for arcuate movement about a second pivot axis between a coplanar position and an outwardly inclined position relative to the drawbolt body to interfit said recess and said lip and draw said keeper and its associated container part to closed position upon arcuate movement of the body member about said first pivot axis from said release position to said latching position, said second pivot axis when said drawbolt body member occupies said latching position being located outwardly relative to said mounting surfaces from a reference plane passing through said first pivot axis and said lip and said second pivot axis remaining continuously outwardly of said reference plane throughout movement of the v member occupies said hold position to restrain the drawbolt body against said plate and to release the drawbolt body for outward pivotal movement upon manual actuation of the slide member.

14. A drawbolt latching device as-defined in claim 12, wherein said shackle includes trunions projecting inwardly from said legs toward the drawbolt body and journaled in the latter, said trunions each having a flat formed at a selected angular position thereon, and said drawbolt body including resilient members bearing against said trunions at positions to engage said flats when the shackle occupies said latching position and to be increasingly stressed by other portions of the trunions as the shackle is displaced angularly relative to the drawbolt body upon arcuate movement of the latter from its latching position to resiliently retain the shackle at such angularly displaced positions relative to the drawbolt body.

15. A drawbolt latching deviceas defined in claim 12, including a kicker spring on said mounting plate having an outwardly extending spring portion engaging said tongue formation during release movement of said slide member to resiliently move the tongue formation outwardly beyond an interfitting position relative to the staple immediately upon release of the tongue formation from said staple.

16. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 12, including a spring member adjacent said first pivot axis for continuously biasing said drawbolt body toward said mounting plate to resiliently swing the drawbolt bod to location ne r s id latchi osition when man ual tilting pressure is withdrawn the drawbolt body. 

1. A drawbolt latching device adapted to be mounted on coplanar mounting surfaces of separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the mounting surfaces having a first mating portion, a drawbolt assembly including a mounting plate to be affixed to the other of said mounting surfaces, a drawbolt body pivotally supported on said mounting plate for arcuate movement about a first pivot axis paralleling said surface between a latching position against said plate and a release position inclined outwardly therefrom, a generally U-shaped shackle including a croSs-member having a second mating portion and a pair of legs pivoted to said drawbolt body remote from said cross-member for arcuate movement between a latching position and a release position about a second pivot axis spaced eccentrically relative to said first pivot axis to interfit said second and first mating portions together and draw said keeper and its associated container part to closed position upon arcuate movement of the drawbolt body about said first pivot axis from said release position to said latching position, said second pivot axis when said drawbolt body occupies said latching position being located outwardly relative to said mounting surfaces from a reference plane passing through said first pivot axis and said first mating portion and said second pivot axis remaining continuously outwardly of said reference plane throughout movement of the drawbolt body between latching and release positions, said mounting plate including a first retaining member, said drawbolt body having a guideway and a finger operable slide member movable therein biased to a hold position, the slide member having a second retaining member releasibly coupled with the first retaining member when the slide member occupies said hold position to restrain the drawbolt body against said plate and to release the drawbolt body for outward pivotal movement upon manual actuation of the slide member.
 2. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 1, wherein said shackle includes trunions projecting inwardly from said legs toward the drawbolt body and journaled in the latter, said trunions each having a flat formed at a selected angular position thereon, and said drawbolt body including resilient members bearing against said trunions at positions to engage said flats when the shackle occupies said latching position and to be increasingly stressed by other portions of the trunions as the shackle is displaced angularly relative to the drawbolt body upon arcuate movement of the latter from its latching position to resiliently retain the shackle at such angularly displaced positions relative to the drawbolt body.
 3. A drawbolt latching device adapted to be mounted on coplanar mounting surfaces of separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the mounting surfaces having a first mating portion, a drawbolt assembly including a mounting plate to be affixed to the other of said mounting surfaces, a drawbolt body pivotally supported on said mounting plate for arcuate movement about a first pivot axis paralleling said surface between a latching position against said plate and a release position inclined outwardly therefrom, a generally U-shaped shackle including a cross-member having a second mating portion and a pair of legs pivoted to said drawbolt body remote from said cross-member for arcuate movement between a latching position and a release position about a second pivot axis spaced eccentrically relative to said first pivot axis to interfit said second and first mating portions together and draw said keeper and its associated container part to closed position upon arcuate movement of the drawbolt body about said first pivot axis from said release position to said latching position, said second pivot axis when said drawbolt body occupies said latching position being located outwardly relative to said mounting surfaces from a reference plane passing though said first pivot axis and said first mating portion and said second pivot axis remaining continuously outwardly of said reference plane throughout movement of the drawbolt body between latching and release positions, said mounting plate including a retaining staple projecting outwardly therefrom, said drawbolt body having a guideway and a finger operable slide member movable therein biased to a hold position, the slide member having a retaining tongue formation interfitted in said staple when the slide member occupies said hold position to restrain the drawbolt body against said plaTe and to release the drawbolt body for outward pivotal movement upon manual actuation of the slide member.
 4. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 3, wherein said shackle includes trunions projecting inwardly from said legs toward the drawbolt body and journaled in the latter, said trunions each having a flat formed at a selected angular position thereon, and said drawbolt body including resilient members bearing against said trunions at positions to engage said flats when the shackle occupies said latching position and to be increasingly stressed by other portions of the trunions as the shackle is displaced angularly relative to the drawbolt body upon arcuate movement of the latter from its latching position to resiliently retain the shackle at such angularly displaced positions relative to the drawbolt body.
 5. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 4, including a kicker spring on said mounting plate having an outwardly extending spring portion engaging said tongue formation during release movement of said slide member to resiliently move the tongue formation outwardly beyond an interfitting position relative to the staple immediately upon release of the tongue formation from said staple.
 6. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 5, including a spring member adjacent said first pivot axis for continuously biasing said drawbolt body toward said mounting plate to resiliently swing the drawbolt body to a location near said latching position when manual tilting pressure is withdrawn from the drawbolt body.
 7. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 3, including a kicker spring on said mounting plate having an outwardly extending spring portion engaging said tongue formation during release movement of said slide member to resiliently move the tongue formation outwardly beyond an interfitting position relative to the staple immediately upon release of the tongue formation from said staple.
 8. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 3, including a spring member adjacent said first pivot axis for continuously biasing said drawbolt body toward said mounting plate to resiliently swing the drawbolt body to a location near said latching position when manual tilting pressure is withdrawn from the drawbolt body.
 9. A drawbolt latching device adapted to be mounted on coplanar mounting surfaces of separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the mounting surfaces having a first mating portion, a drawbolt assembly including a mounting plate to be affixed to the other of said mounting surfaces, a drawbolt body pivotally supported on said mounting plate for arcuate movement about a first pivot axis paralleling said surface between a latching position against said plate and a release position inclined outwardly therefrom, a generally U-shaped shackle including a cross-member having a second mating portion and a pair of legs pivoted to said drawbolt body remote from said cross-member for arcuate movement between a latching position and a release position about a second pivot axis spaced eccentrically relative to said first pivot axis to interfit said second and first mating portions together and draw said keeper and its associated container part to closed position upon arcuate movement of the drawbolt body about said first pivot axis from said release position to said latching position, said second pivot axis when said drawbolt body occupies said latching position being located outwardly relative to said mounting surfaces from a reference plane passing through said first pivot axis and said first mating portion and said second pivot axis remaining continuously outwardly of said reference plane throughout movement of the drawbolt body between latching and release positions, said shackle including trunions projecting inwardly from said legs toward the drawbolt body and journaled in the latter, said trunions each having a flat formed at a selected angular position thereon, and Said drawbolt body including resilient members bearing against said trunions at positions to engage said flats when the shackle occupies said latching position and to be increasingly stressed by other portions of the trunions as the shackle is displace angularly relative to the drawbolt body upon arcuate movement of the latter from its latching position to resiliently retain the shackle at such angularly displaced positions relative to the drawbolt body.
 10. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 9, including a spring member adjacent said first pivot axis for continuously biasing said drawbolt body toward said mounting plate to resiliently swing the drawbolt body to a location near said latching position when manual tilting pressure is withdrawn from the drawbolt body.
 11. A drawbolt latching device adapted to be mounted on coplanar mounting surfaces of separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the mounting surfaces having a first mating portion, a drawbolt assembly including a mounting plate to be affixed to the other of said mounting surfaces, a drawbolt body pivotally supported on said mounting plate for arcuate movement about a first pivot axis paralleling said surface between a latching position against said plate and a release position inclined outwardly therefrom, a generally U-shaped shackle including a cross-member having a second mating portion and a pair of legs pivoted to said drawbolt body remote from said cross-member for arcuate movement between a latching position and a release position about a second pivot axis spaced eccentrically relative to said first pivot axis to interfit said second and first mating portions together and draw said keeper and its associated container part to closed position upon arcuate movement of the drawbolt body about said first pivot axis from said release position to said latching position, said second pivot axis when said drawbolt body occupies said latching position being located outwardly relative to said mounting surfaces from a reference plane passing through said first pivot axis and said first mating portion and said second pivot axis remaining continuously outwardly of said reference plane throughout movement of the drawbolt body between latching and release positions, and a spring member adjacent said first pivot axis for continuously biasing said drawbolt body toward said mounting plate to resiliently swing the drawbolt body to a location near said latching position when manual tilting pressure is withdrawn from the drawbolt body.
 12. A drawbolt latching device adapted to be mounted on coplanar mounting surfaces of separable parts of a container adjacent a line of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be affixed to one of the mounting surfaces including a lip projecting in outwardly spaced relation therefrom away from said line, a drawbolt assembly including a mounting plate to be affixed to the other of said mounting surfaces having a retaining staple projecting outwardly therefrom, a drawbolt body member pivotally supported on said mounting plate for arcuate movement about a first pivot axis paralleling said surface between a latching position against said plate and a release position inclined outwardly therefrom, a rectilinearly reciprocative slide member supported in said drawbolt body for finger displacement from a normal position wherein a portion of the slide member is releasibly interfitted with the staple for holding the body in said latching position, a generally U-shaped shackle including a cross-member having a recess therein and a pair of legs pivoted to said drawbolt body remote from said cross-member for arcuate movement about a second pivot axis between a coplanar position and an outwardly inclined position relative to the drawbolt body to interfit said recess and said lip and draw said keeper and its associated container part to closed position upon arcuate movement of the body member about said first pivOt axis from said release position to said latching position, said second pivot axis when said drawbolt body member occupies said latching position being located outwardly relative to said mounting surfaces from a reference plane passing through said first pivot axis and said lip and said second pivot axis remaining continuously outwardly of said reference plane throughout movement of the drawbolt body between latching and release positions.
 13. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 12, said drawbolt body having a guideway and a finger operable slide member moveable therein biased to a hold position, the slide member having a retaining tongue formation interfitted in said staple when the slide member occupies said hold position to restrain the drawbolt body against said plate and to release the drawbolt body for outward pivotal movement upon manual actuation of the slide member.
 14. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 12, wherein said shackle includes trunions projecting inwardly from said legs toward the drawbolt body and journaled in the latter, said trunions each having a flat formed at a selected angular position thereon, and said drawbolt body including resilient members bearing against said trunions at positions to engage said flats when the shackle occupies said latching position and to be increasingly stressed by other portions of the trunions as the shackle is displaced angularly relative to the drawbolt body upon arcuate movement of the latter from its latching position to resiliently retain the shackle at such angularly displaced positions relative to the drawbolt body.
 15. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 12, including a kicker spring on said mounting plate having an outwardly extending spring portion engaging said tongue formation during release movement of said slide member to resiliently move the tongue formation outwardly beyond an interfitting position relative to the staple immediately upon release of the tongue formation from said staple.
 16. A drawbolt latching device as defined in claim 12, including a spring member adjacent said first pivot axis for continuously biasing said drawbolt body toward said mounting plate to resiliently swing the drawbolt body to a location near said latching position when manual tilting pressure is withdrawn from the drawbolt body. 